The Purpose of Lent: To See Things Differently

One of the greatest spiritual gifts we’ve been given is the ability to shift our perspective. Even when life doesn’t unfold as we hoped, prayed, or planned, we are not powerless. We can choose to see differently. We can reframe our experience by using a deeper spiritual lens. Lent invites us to release old stories and awaken to our divine faculties, especially the power of imagination.

Imagination is not just for dreaming—it is for transforming. When ignited by faith and guided by love, imagination becomes a sacred faculty that empowers us to cocreate a new reality. Rather than letting our imagination spiral into fear, worry, or regret, we can harness it to envision what is possible, even in the midst of adversity.

During this sacred season of Lent, we are called to “cross out” false beliefs and release error thoughts that keep us bound in separation. We are invited to return to the inner sanctuary where Spirit dwells.

Turn Inward

There are times when disappointment cuts deep. Plans unravel. Prayers seem unanswered. In these moments, our human tendency may be to withdraw, to feel disheartened or defeated. Yet if we turn inward and listen in the silence of our hearts, a greater truth begins to emerge: We are never alone. Spirit is always present, inviting us to see with new eyes.

Jesus exemplified this during his crucifixion. Though betrayal and suffering awaited him, he never lost faith. He turned inward in prayer and leaned into his divine identity with courage, compassion, and surrender. He saw beyond the cross to resurrection. His life teaches us that pain is never the final word—transformation is.

Surrender Liberates Us

During this sacred season of Lent, we are called to “cross out” false beliefs and release error thoughts that keep us bound in separation. We are invited to return to what Unity cofounder Charles Fillmore called “headquarters”—the inner sanctuary where Spirit dwells. In this stillness, we remember who we truly are: spiritual beings, whole and holy, endowed with the power to rise.

This is our resurrection story too. As we release outdated patterns and egoic attachments, we make room for the Christ light within us to shine. When we stop resisting what is, and instead surrender into the now moment, a new path opens. Acceptance isn’t passive—it’s the soil in which peace grows. Resistance keeps us stuck; surrender liberates us.

Even in our darkest moments, we can find refuge in prayer, silence, and communion with God. We follow Jesus’ example—not ignoring the chaos around us but anchoring ourselves in divine truth. We remember that heaven is not a distant place but a state of consciousness we can embody here and now.

Let this season be one of spiritual renewal. Let us release the need to control, the weight of disappointment, and the grip of fear. Instead, let us nurture our inner life with compassion, reflection, and unwavering faith.

As we reimagine our lives through the eyes of Spirit, we reclaim our power to transform—from separation to oneness, from grief to grace, from resistance to peace. And in doing so, we prepare our hearts for the miracle of Easter.

This article first appeared in the Unity booklet, Release and Reimagine: Lent 2026.